Your Expat
Community in Shanghai

David Thyne

"At the first Shanghai Get-Together I met several American expats. I am very grateful that they shared their experience with me."

Diana Anhaus-Brey

"It is just so easy to find other international people and global minds with InterNations. I didn´t know there were so many in Shanghai."

Discover Shanghai's Friendly Expat Community!

Ni hao and a warm welcome to our expat community in Shanghai! Step into our friendly and thriving Shanghai Community and receive helpful, first-hand advice from real expats living in Shanghai. Get to know the Chinese city before you arrive and plan your move down to the letter with guidance from our informative and experienced network of expats, as well as the information in our extensive guide on what you need to know for your expat life in China.
You may be considering your next move or planning your escape and may be keen to know the answers to questions like, "what's the healthcare system like in China?", "how expensive is education in China?", or "where is the best place for a family to live in Shanghai?". Once you join InterNations, you'll find helpful members in our forums who will be happy to answer any pressing questions for which you haven't found the answers in our guides. With our members' insider knowledge about living in Shanghai, they will be happy to give you unrivaled advice and tips about settling into your new life in this bustling, modern city.
Not only will the friendly expat community be able to help you with practical questions, but they will also be able to give a key insight into Chinese culture and lifestyle, such as where to grab the best street food, like Peking Duck or when to celebrate the Chinese Qingming Festival.

With InterNations, you never stand alone. Whether you move to another city or go on a business trip
somewhere — our communities are there to make you feel at home wherever you are in the world. Feel free to
also check out our other vibrant InterNations Communities like the ones in
Hong Kong or
Singapore.

Our Global Partners

Find More Information in Our Shanghai Expat Guides

Welcome to Shanghai! You will encounter an extraordinary city with a unique mixture of Western lifestyle and Eastern flair. Our InterNations Guide on moving to Shanghai gives you a general city overview and more specific information on expat life, e.g. expat neighborhoods and visa regulations.

So you are about to join the ranks of the many expats living in Shanghai? While a fascinating time awaits you, expat life in China can be challenging for newcomers to the country and its culture. Let InterNations guide you through what to expect of Shanghai, from transport to health and education!

Working in Shanghai is highly attractive for expats. Interested in becoming one of the many foreign residents employed in the city? You’ve picked the right time! The business climate is beneficial for expats interested in working in Shanghai. Read our article to find out what you need to know.

Exchange Tips about living in Shanghai

Get trustworthy advice and local insights from fellow members in our Shanghai expat forums.

Additional Information on Expat Life in Shanghai

Known as the Paris of the East, Shanghai is home to a number of exciting attractions, such as the historic neighborhood of Bund and the largest port in the world, located on the estuary of the Yangtze River. The metropolis of China is similar to its counterpart Hong Kong, with impressive skyscrapers lining the skies alongside traditional Chinese architecture and culture. It's an East meets West extravaganza!
Expats often move to China to pursue a career in business, with Shanghai renowned as the country's leading financial center. The city is home to a number of international businesses, and its foreign population is continually growing. The city's cosmopolitan vibe can make it feel like a very glamorous place to live, much like Hong Kong, with a work hard, play hard lifestyle prevalent among young expats in the city, many of whom earn generous salaries and are able to maintain a fun-filled lifestyle outside of work.
According to the InterNations Expat Insider 2015 survey, Shanghai (and China in general) is one of the best places for expats to work and lead a balanced life, with high rankings in job security and high-earning careers. China ranked average for its availability of childcare and education, and can be a little more expensive in these areas than other countries.

InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 390 cities across the
globe. Get to know fellow internationals in your city, before you're moving, or when traveling somewhere
and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat
friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the
world. Whether they live in
Jeddah or
Amsterdam,
InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.

InterNations: The Easiest Way to Grow Your Expat Network in Shanghai

Every member of the prestigious InterNations Shanghai Community has been approved by us to become part of the network, so you can be rest assured that your interactions with other members, both online and offline, will be safe and courteous. This means that you can communicate with other users while safe in the knowledge that you are speaking with a trustworthy person.
Why not get involved in some of Shanghai's groups and events taking place in the city? There are a number of groups you can sign up for on InterNations, from learning something new like Mandarin or how to play a musical instrument, to simply meeting up with other like-minded people in the city over dinner or a mocha, there's plenty to do in Shanghai!
You don't have to give up your social life when you move to Shanghai. You can keep doing what you love to do in your new city, with new people that are part of the same shared experience as you. Start your new chapter in Shanghai with new friends, hobbies and interests, and give yourself the best chance of settling in comfortably in your new home.

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David Thyne

"At the first Shanghai Get-Together I met several American expats. I am very grateful that they shared their experience with me."

Diana Anhaus-Brey

"It is just so easy to find other international people and global minds with InterNations. I didn´t know there were so many in Shanghai."